1940’s-1970’s
From Distributor to Manufacturer

Based in Cleveland, Ohio, Superior Tool Company was founded in 1946 as a distributor of U.S. Government surplus hand tools from World War II. For the next 5 decades, Superior manufactured a wide range of products…mostly tubing/pipe tools and hex key wrenches which were sold primarily through hardware distribution.

1980’s
Superior Creates the Professional Plumbing Tool Category

In the late 1980s, Superior created a new product category for retailers—“American-Made, Professional Quality Pipe Working & Plumbing Tools”—to be merchandised in the plumbing aisles at the then-emerging big boxes and soon thereafter at smaller hardware stores and home centers. Hard-goods retailers everywhere began merchandising Superior’s professional quality tools to a wide range of end-users who do plumbing.

1990’s
Superior’s Innovation Continues

By the late 1990s, Superior intensified its development of innovative tools for plumbing and, in the new millennium, Superior has introduced such diverse and useful proprietary products as Bayonet Threadless Tubular™, SinkDrain Wrench^®, Drain Stick™, ShutOff Wrench™, SuperWrenches™ and most recently the world’s first cordless power tubing cutter, the UltraCut™.  These new products helped drive company growth that enabled it to receive, on three separate occasions, the Weatherhead 100 award as one of the fastest-growing companies in Cleveland—among other awards.

The New Millennium
Superior Creates A New Business Model

Cleveland is a classic “rust-belt” city struggling to re-invent itself amidst the decline of its steel and auto parts industry manufacturing base.

Superior has worked hard to create a new business model for small Midwest manufacturers—one that symbolizes the resiliency of U.S. manufacturing in meeting global challenges, the demands of large retailers, environmental concerns, and humanistic principles. Our program is certified by HUBZone Empowerment Contracting, which supports small businesses in distressed areas.

Superior manufactures the majority of its product line in the inner city of Cleveland at its wholly-owned subsidiary, Neighborhood Manufacturing. Most of the employees live in the neighborhood and walk or bus to work. Superior has worked with local grass-roots economic development groups and non-profit organizations to make this work, and has received a number of awards along the way.
 

Superior works mostly with local suppliers, all of whom use lean-manufacturing techniques to insure cost-effective yet high-quality materials, parts, printing, and products.

When needed, Superior works with factories overseas. We provide sophisticated global sourcing techniques to oversee carefully selected factories in the EU and Asia.

A good corporate citizen, Superior has received numerous awards, not only for its commitment to local communities, but also for its over 10-year commitment to a sheltered workshop enclave employing adults with mental retardation. United Way Services and the Cuyahoga County Commissioners have recognized Superior with numerous awards.

For 60 years Superior has stood behind every tool like no other company. Every tool has a lifetime guarantee¹. Every customer can expect personal telephone service from knowledgeable full-time company representatives. Superior makes it happen.

The People Who Make It Happen

Neighborhood Manufacturing Company

Neighborhood Manufacturing, a division of Superior, is an inner-city neighborhood company supporting the working needs of its local community. We are dedicated to being a high quality, low cost producer/assembler. Our employees live in the neighborhood and most walk or bus to work. Our services include contract light machining, drilling, tapping, pressing, roll stamping, high-volume clam shell and blister packaging, and assembly. We are members of The Clark-Metro Development Organization, WIRE-Net and are HUBZone Certified.

Administration

Our people are committed to keeping customers happy… to “avoid barriers to buy”… to take care of our customers quickly and help them in any way we can.

Warehouse

This group works hard to keep customers’ orders coming in and going out in the most efficient way, using the latest technology…scan & pack… EDI… and UCC Net for selected customers.

SAW Group (Solutions at Work)

Superior’s History of Recognition

Superior has enjoyed a long history of receiving recognition for innovation, including a number of recent awards:

• 2007 – Dealer Design Silver Award in the Tool Category from Air Conditioning | Heating | Refrigeration News magazine
• 2007 – Power of Partnerships Award with Tecate Industries, a division of the Tecate Group and San Diego-based Maxwell Technologies
• 2007 - eVolution in Manufacturing Award from Cleveland-based MAGNET (Manufacturing Advocacy & Growth Network) and Smart Business magazine
• 2007 – Recognized by the American Hardware Manufacturers Association for 60 years in business
• 2006 – Product of the Year Award for the UltraCut™ Cordless Power Tubing Cutter from Plant Engineering magazine
• 2002 – Nortech Innovation Award for the DrainStick™
• 2001 – Outstanding Partnership Initiatives recognition from Lowe’s
• 2001 – The Handyman Club of America’s Member-Tested Seal of Approval for the DrainStick™
• 2001 – Retailer’s Choice Award from Do-It-Yourself Retailing magazine for the DrainStick™
• 2001 – Nortech Innovation Award for Bayonet Threadless Tubular™
• 2000 – Finalist in the Innovators in Customer Service category of the Inc./Cisco Growing with Technology Awards
• 1998 – Outstanding Growth Company, on the Weatherhead 100 List of the fastest growing firms in Northeast Ohio
• 1997 – Outstanding Growth Company, on the Weatherhead 100 List of the fastest growing firms in Northeast Ohio
• 1996 – Outstanding Growth Company, on the Weatherhead 100 List of the fastest growing firms in Northeast Ohio

Superior is proud to note that a significant amount of its light assembly and packaging work is done by developmentally-challenged workers at Superior’s main facility, and the company has been honored for this effort:

• 2007 – United Way of Greater Cleveland Corporate & Employee Pacesetter Award
• 2006 – United Way of Greater Cleveland Corporate & Employee Pacesetter Award
• 2005 – United Way of Greater Cleveland Corporate & Employee Pacesetter Award
• 1998 – Inclusion Award from the Cuyahoga County Board of Mental Retardation & Developmental Disabilities
• 1997 – Company of the Year from SAW, Inc.
• 1996 – Employer of the Year from the Cuyahoga County Center for Mental Retardation

With a company culture that is intensely focused on serving the needs of users of its tools–and 60 years after its founding–Superior continues to be the dependable source for innovative products that make plumbing jobs faster and easier. And, Superior stands behind every tool like no other company–with lifetime guarantees and a commitment to personal telephone service from knowledgeable full-time company representatives.

The report cards that retailers have given us prove that all of this is not idle talk: Superior makes it happen.

¹ - The UltraCut has a limited, 1-year warranty.